To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

SERVING AUGUSTANA SINCE 1908
Volume 93
Issue 21
Dybsetter
Friday, May 6, 2005
Sioux Falls, S.D.
Committee
set back by
resignations
BY LAURA HIBMA& TONY RAAP
MIRROR STAFF WRITERS
The Strategic Planning Committee suf-fered
a setback recently after two of its top-ranking
members resigned.
Diane Mataraza, project facilitator,
stepped down after she and Dr. Michael
Mullin, committee chair, failed to resolve
several philosophical disagreements con-cerning
how the college should proceed
with its strategic planning.
"We were never able to reconcile [our
differences]," Mullin said. "In the end, she
decided that it was better just to resign, and
to let us go ahead and do what we thought
we needed to do."
Mataraza could not be reached for com-ment,
and did not return repeated messages
left on her voice mail.
Shortly after learning of Mataraza's
departure, the college also received a resig-nation
from Vicki Madsen, planning process
coordinator. In an e-mail to the Mirror,
Madsen declined to comment on her resigna-
(see Committee, Page 12)
Professor loses job,
students outraged
BY TONY RAAP
MIRROR CO-EDITOR
Despite heavy student opposition, Dr. Susan Wortmann
will not be back next fall.
Wortmann, assistant professor of sociology, has accepted a
teaching position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after
being given a terminal contract last month from Augustana.
The administration says Wortmann's termination was
done out of necessity. Dr. Glenda Sehested, a tenured soci-ology
professor, will not serve as registrar after this year,
and so a shift in faculty was needed, President Bruce
Halverson says.
"When you have a limited number of places, [Sehested]
has priority...It was a decision we had no choice about.
[Since Sehested has tenure], it was an automatic decision,"
Halverson said.
Though many believed Wortmann would be leaving, few
thought she would be leaving so soon. Her termination does
not go into effect until after the 2005-06 school year. But
Wortmann says she did not want to wait for the axe to fall.
"In some ways, I'd really love to stay here," Wortmann
said. "But then again, I need some job security."
When she was hired, Wortmann says she was never told
that her job might be put in jeopardy. Her expectation was that
she would be given tenure if she met the necessary requisites.
Halverson said the administration "never thought this
would happen," but also said that every non-tenured profes-
(see Wortmann, Page 12)
Photo by Carla Wormington
Dr. Susan Wortmann will not return to the sociology
department next year after the administration terminated
her teaching contract. Approximately 300 students signed
a petition to keep her on staff.
Students receive Covenant Awards
Excellence Service
BY LAURA HIBMA
MIRROR STAFF WRITER
Lacey Horkey, a senior from Heron Lake,
Minn., was presented the Covenant Award
for Excellence at the Community Service
Day send-off in the chapel last
Saturday, April 30.
The award recognizes a student
that exemplifies the spirit of excel-lence.
Cheryl Jackson, English
instructor, explained the criteria
used in selecting the winner.
"The winner must show the
heart of a lion, conduct him or
herself ethically, posses virtue,
act with integrity, be committed
to self-improvement and exceed
the call of duty," Jackson said. Horkey
Jim Bies, vice president for
student services and a member of the
Covenant Award Review Committee, said
this year's selection process was extreme-ly
difficult.
"It was a monumental task to select one
recipient from among the outstanding nom-inations,"
Bies said. "Each individual
brought so many qualifications and gifts to
the table."
Horkey says she was surprised when her
name was called.
"The nominees for the award are amazing
contributors to the campus com-munity
who make exciting differ-ences
everyday," Horkey said. "I
admire those students for their
awesome, friendly attitudes and
super-human energy. They make
the incredible list of things they
do look like an easy undertaking."
For Horkey, there is great
importance in the value of
excellence.
"It means taking advantage of
today's opportunities and paving
the way for tomorrow," she said.
"It is more than filling a role on campus; it is
stretching the boundaries of that role to their
full potential and beyond. It is recognizing
that one person's successes are the product
of the countless individuals who make a
daily impact on him or her."
Horkey is majoring in both English and
BY KARYN SCHUBERT
MIRROR STAFF WRITER
Jason Dybsetter, a senior from
Yankton, S .D., received the
Covenant Award for Service on
Saturday, April 30 in
the chapel.
The award was
announced prior to the
opening of Augustana's
Community Service
Day. More than 300
participants witnessed
the ceremony.
Dybsetter, a biology
and religion major, was
nominated by Dr. Anna
Madsen and Dr.
Richard Swanson, both
religion professors.
"It was very touching, and it was
a good feeling to hear what these
people think about me...to have
them verbalize it in that way was
very memorable," Dybsetter said.
This year, Dybsetter has devoted
much of his time and energy in help-ing
Dr. Madsen, whose son Karl
incurred diffuse brain damage in a
car accident last summer. Dybsetter
has volunteered to care for Madsen's
daughter Else as well.
"I'm like part of the
family now, so to be rec-ognized
for doing this is
great," Dybsetter said.
"But I don't feel like I'm
doing anything excep-tional.
I love those kids; I
love the family. It would
be weird not to do it."
Working with chil-dren
is something that
Dybsetter has done for
many years. He has
worked as a lifeguard, helping kids
with swimming lessons. And he is
currently employed at Children's
Care Hospital, where he has
worked with challenged children
for several years.
Service has also been something
(see Horkey, Page 11) (see Dybsetter, Page ii)
News Sports Variety Forum
Student wins $1,000 Athletes earn conference honors Choir Boys CD Release Covenant Conversations
Page 11 Page 8 Page 5 Page 3

SERVING AUGUSTANA SINCE 1908
Volume 93
Issue 21
Dybsetter
Friday, May 6, 2005
Sioux Falls, S.D.
Committee
set back by
resignations
BY LAURA HIBMA& TONY RAAP
MIRROR STAFF WRITERS
The Strategic Planning Committee suf-fered
a setback recently after two of its top-ranking
members resigned.
Diane Mataraza, project facilitator,
stepped down after she and Dr. Michael
Mullin, committee chair, failed to resolve
several philosophical disagreements con-cerning
how the college should proceed
with its strategic planning.
"We were never able to reconcile [our
differences]," Mullin said. "In the end, she
decided that it was better just to resign, and
to let us go ahead and do what we thought
we needed to do."
Mataraza could not be reached for com-ment,
and did not return repeated messages
left on her voice mail.
Shortly after learning of Mataraza's
departure, the college also received a resig-nation
from Vicki Madsen, planning process
coordinator. In an e-mail to the Mirror,
Madsen declined to comment on her resigna-
(see Committee, Page 12)
Professor loses job,
students outraged
BY TONY RAAP
MIRROR CO-EDITOR
Despite heavy student opposition, Dr. Susan Wortmann
will not be back next fall.
Wortmann, assistant professor of sociology, has accepted a
teaching position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after
being given a terminal contract last month from Augustana.
The administration says Wortmann's termination was
done out of necessity. Dr. Glenda Sehested, a tenured soci-ology
professor, will not serve as registrar after this year,
and so a shift in faculty was needed, President Bruce
Halverson says.
"When you have a limited number of places, [Sehested]
has priority...It was a decision we had no choice about.
[Since Sehested has tenure], it was an automatic decision,"
Halverson said.
Though many believed Wortmann would be leaving, few
thought she would be leaving so soon. Her termination does
not go into effect until after the 2005-06 school year. But
Wortmann says she did not want to wait for the axe to fall.
"In some ways, I'd really love to stay here," Wortmann
said. "But then again, I need some job security."
When she was hired, Wortmann says she was never told
that her job might be put in jeopardy. Her expectation was that
she would be given tenure if she met the necessary requisites.
Halverson said the administration "never thought this
would happen," but also said that every non-tenured profes-
(see Wortmann, Page 12)
Photo by Carla Wormington
Dr. Susan Wortmann will not return to the sociology
department next year after the administration terminated
her teaching contract. Approximately 300 students signed
a petition to keep her on staff.
Students receive Covenant Awards
Excellence Service
BY LAURA HIBMA
MIRROR STAFF WRITER
Lacey Horkey, a senior from Heron Lake,
Minn., was presented the Covenant Award
for Excellence at the Community Service
Day send-off in the chapel last
Saturday, April 30.
The award recognizes a student
that exemplifies the spirit of excel-lence.
Cheryl Jackson, English
instructor, explained the criteria
used in selecting the winner.
"The winner must show the
heart of a lion, conduct him or
herself ethically, posses virtue,
act with integrity, be committed
to self-improvement and exceed
the call of duty," Jackson said. Horkey
Jim Bies, vice president for
student services and a member of the
Covenant Award Review Committee, said
this year's selection process was extreme-ly
difficult.
"It was a monumental task to select one
recipient from among the outstanding nom-inations,"
Bies said. "Each individual
brought so many qualifications and gifts to
the table."
Horkey says she was surprised when her
name was called.
"The nominees for the award are amazing
contributors to the campus com-munity
who make exciting differ-ences
everyday," Horkey said. "I
admire those students for their
awesome, friendly attitudes and
super-human energy. They make
the incredible list of things they
do look like an easy undertaking."
For Horkey, there is great
importance in the value of
excellence.
"It means taking advantage of
today's opportunities and paving
the way for tomorrow," she said.
"It is more than filling a role on campus; it is
stretching the boundaries of that role to their
full potential and beyond. It is recognizing
that one person's successes are the product
of the countless individuals who make a
daily impact on him or her."
Horkey is majoring in both English and
BY KARYN SCHUBERT
MIRROR STAFF WRITER
Jason Dybsetter, a senior from
Yankton, S .D., received the
Covenant Award for Service on
Saturday, April 30 in
the chapel.
The award was
announced prior to the
opening of Augustana's
Community Service
Day. More than 300
participants witnessed
the ceremony.
Dybsetter, a biology
and religion major, was
nominated by Dr. Anna
Madsen and Dr.
Richard Swanson, both
religion professors.
"It was very touching, and it was
a good feeling to hear what these
people think about me...to have
them verbalize it in that way was
very memorable," Dybsetter said.
This year, Dybsetter has devoted
much of his time and energy in help-ing
Dr. Madsen, whose son Karl
incurred diffuse brain damage in a
car accident last summer. Dybsetter
has volunteered to care for Madsen's
daughter Else as well.
"I'm like part of the
family now, so to be rec-ognized
for doing this is
great," Dybsetter said.
"But I don't feel like I'm
doing anything excep-tional.
I love those kids; I
love the family. It would
be weird not to do it."
Working with chil-dren
is something that
Dybsetter has done for
many years. He has
worked as a lifeguard, helping kids
with swimming lessons. And he is
currently employed at Children's
Care Hospital, where he has
worked with challenged children
for several years.
Service has also been something
(see Horkey, Page 11) (see Dybsetter, Page ii)
News Sports Variety Forum
Student wins $1,000 Athletes earn conference honors Choir Boys CD Release Covenant Conversations
Page 11 Page 8 Page 5 Page 3